Veteran politician Uma Bharti, 52, on Tuesday rejoined the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), nearly six years after being expelled for defying the party leadership. The former Madhya Pradesh chief minister’s re-induction in the party was announced at a press conference here by party president Nitin Gadkari. She will look after the party’s affairs in Uttar Pradesh, which goes to polls next year. “I discussed the issue with all leaders and parliamentary party members and so I am announcing it now. With Uma Bharti, we will get power in Uttar Pradesh politics,” Gadkari told reporters. She was expelled for indiscipline and defying the BJP’s central leadership in December 2005. Meanwhile, Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan today welcomed the return of firebrand Hindutva leader Uma Bharti to BJP, nearly six years after her expulsion. “We welcome the party’s decision to re-induct her back into the BJP,” Chouhan told reporters here when asked about Uma’s return to the party fold. “In fact, we welcome every person who comes to the BJP,” Chouhan said in a calibrated manner adding he would meet her whenever she visits Bhopal. Uma Bharati was expelled from BJP in year 2005 when she revolted against the appointment of Shivraj Singh Chauhan as the Chief Minister of Madhya Pradesh. Meanwhile, the state unit BJP president, Prabhat Jha, termed the decision of the party high command to facilitate entry of the former chief minister and president of Bhartiya Janshakti Party into BJP as “appropriate” one. “The party has entrusted her with the task of cleaning holy river Ganga and campaigning in Uttar Pradesh and I pray to the god that she gets success in her endeavours,” Jha said. Though Uma’s Bhartiya Janshakti Party workers celebrated her return at her official residence, the same was not observed at the BJP office.